Huskies look for a boot

Over the last two games, UConn sophomore Matt Nuzie has missed a 31-yard field goal at Boston College and had an extra point blocked against Duke.

But with nowhere else to turn - for now, anyway - Edsall's hands are tied.

Tony Ciaravino, a true freshman from Boca Raton, Fla., was supposed to be the savior of UConn's kicking game this fall. But after nursing a right quadriceps injury through most of preseason camp, Ciaravino still isn't ready.

When asked about the kicking situation Tuesday, Edsall bristled over the question, which has become a daily thorn in his side. The Huskies (2-1) will face Army (0-3) on Saturday at Rentschler Field.

"Right now, it will be Matt Nuzie. Again, until there's any further development on the kicking thing, I'm not really going to talk about it,'' Edsall said. "When there's a time to make a statement about anything different, I'll make it at that point in time.

"Tony's out practicing,'' Edsall added. "But like I said, right now, Matt is the kicker until there's something further to say about that.''

Last season, Nuzie shined in UConn's first scrimmage at Rentschler Field. He hit 5-of-6 field goals, including a 47-yard blast, to win the job. But his heroics didn't last long.

Nuzie made just 3-of-13 field goals beyond 30 yards in 2003. Ciaravino, on the other hand, drilled 9-of-12 field goals last year at Boca Raton High, including four from 40 yards or longer.

At 6-foot-1 and 214 pounds, Ciaravino has the size and strength to excel as a college kicker. But only if he's 100-percent ready.

Just ask Mike McCabe, the founder of One-On-One Kicking, a year-round camp in Miami. McCabe has worked with Ciaravino since his junior year in high school.

"When Tony's healthy, he's great. He can hit up to 55 or 60 yards, no problem,'' McCabe said Tuesday night. "But you can't compete for a job when you're not healthy. I spoke with him (Monday) night and he's just as frustrated as everyone else.

"My understanding is he's not hurt anymore. But if you take a month off, you're going to lose a lot of leg strength and speed. It's all muscle memory and you need to rebuild that.''

Consider: As a high school junior, Ciaravino had four kickoffs for touchbacks. As a senior, Ciaravino kicked over 30 for touchbacks.

"The first thing you'll notice when he comes back is that his kickoffs might be a little short, but that's normal,'' McCabe said. "I'm not worried about Tony. He's a game player. The kid can kick a football. He just needs to focus on what he has to do. Like I said, he's a cannon.''

McCabe also said UConn punter Shane Hussar, another true freshman from Florida, is nursing tight hamstrings. So far, however, Hussar has hung tough, just like his punts.

After three games, Hussar is averaging 34.3 yards per punt, most of them with a lengthy hang time.

Villanova seeks game

The last time UConn played Villanova in football, the Wildcats left Memorial Stadium with a thrilling, 48-45, victory in triple-overtime in 1999.

Five years later, the Huskies are playing in the Big East and Villanova remains a Division I-AA stalwart. Nonetheless, Villanova athletic director Vince Nicastro said Tuesday he would like to play UConn again.

"We'd love to play them,'' Nicastro said. "We've had some casual conversations, but nothing beyond that yet at this point.

"We had originally set up a game next year - I talked with (ex-UConn deputy athletic director) Tom McElroy about it a few years ago - but it fell through and we've tentatively scheduled a game with Rutgers next year instead."

Villanova, which leads the all-time series with UConn, 7-4, is no stranger to Division I-A competition.

In the 2002 season-opener, the Wildcats shocked Rutgers, 37-19. Villanova has also played Navy, Air Force, Temple and Pittsburgh in recent years.

In upcoming seasons, Nicastro said, the Wildcats will make Division I-A road trips to Maryland, West Virginia and Auburn.

The Huskies, meanwhile, beat Division I-AA Murray State earlier this month, 52-14, after a tie game at halftime. UConn athletic director Jeff Hathaway was unavailable for comment Tuesday and did not immediately return a phone call.

Injury update

UConn linebacker Taurien Sowell is out for the Army game. Sowell, a junior from Bridgeport, injured his foot Sept. 11 in the Duke game and continues to recover, Edsall said.

Three other players - wide receiver Keron Henry (hamstring), left tackle Ryan Krug (ankle) and right cornerback Ernest Cole (ankle) - were hurt in the Boston College game, but still have a shot at playing Saturday.

"All three of those guys are going to practice,'' Edsall said. "We'll see what they do from day-to-day, and then, make a decision at the end of the week whether or not they're capable of playing up to the level that they need in order for us to win a game.''

This and that

Although the Army game is sold out, it will be shown on WTXX-Channel 20 as the Big East Game of the Week. . . .Army owns the country's longest losing streak at 17 games, after falling at Houston, 35-21, last weekend. . . .Despite passing for 193 yards at Boston College - his lowest total in nearly two years - UConn quarterback Dan Orlovsky still ranks first in the Big East in passing yards (222.3 ypg) and total offense (287.0 ypg).